Chapter 11

Chapter 11

Su Jingchuan coughed lightly and approached, prompting Zhong Yixiao to stand up with Mo Jiao, wondering, "Brother Su, who do you think was helping us just now?"

Su Jingchuan shook his head, "I don't know, but since that person chose to remain hidden, we shouldn't press... Right, our junior sister is still inside!"

After speaking, Su Jingchuan hurriedly ran into the cave Xie Lingyu had pointed to, with Zhong Yixiao sighing and following with Mo Jiao, indeed finding Murong Ling tied to a chair and gagged.

This cave seemed to be Qin Yu's sleeping quarters, with a stone bed covered in soft animal hide and the surroundings lavishly decorated, including neatly arranged golden ornaments and even books, indicating the owner's refined taste. However, Mo Jiao was more interested in the carved wooden box placed at the head of the bed.

...Qin Yu had stolen a sacred relic from their sect, but it was useless to him. Could it be hidden here, in his dwelling, perhaps inside that box?

But as Mo Jiao stepped closer, Zhong Yixiao pulled him back, cautioning, "Don't touch these things; they might be poisoned. Let's rescue Miss Murong and leave quickly, Qin Yu will surely return."

The latter part was addressed to Su Jingchuan, who was untying Murong Ling. Murong Ling pulled the gag from her mouth, her eyes slightly red as she looked at her senior brother, "Brother, I knew you would come to save me!"

Su Jingchuan also breathed a sigh of relief, helping Murong Ling up and asking anxiously, "Ling'er, are you hurt?"

Murong Ling shook her head, clearly frightened. Seeing the bandaged wound on Su Jingchuan's arm, she exclaimed, "Brother, are you alright?"

Su Jingchuan replied, "I'm fine. Brother Zhong is right; Qin Yu will definitely return. We should leave here first."

Murong Ling nodded, glanced at Zhong Yixiao, and said somewhat awkwardly, "Thank you, Big Brother Zhong, for saving me."

Whether she thanked him or not, Zhong Yixiao wasn't too concerned but worried about Qin Yu's return. He took Mo Jiao's hand, who was stealthily reaching for the carved wooden box at the head of the bed, and said sternly, "Let's leave here first."

Mo Jiao was desperate, his arms too short to reach the wooden box, and was being dragged away by Zhong Yixiao, while Murong Ling, supported by Su Jingchuan, walked ahead, unaware of the scene behind them.

Zhong Yixiao, somewhat helplessly, picked up Mo Jiao, pulling his hands back.

"Do you like that jade disk? When we get back to Idle Cloud Manor, brother will buy you one. Qin Yu was once part of the demonic sect; if he poisoned those items, it would be bad to touch them."

Mo Jiao silently looked at him, visibly upset. He didn't want the white jade disk; he wanted the wooden box next to it!

But in the next moment, Zhong Yixiao chuckled and gently stroked his nose, coaxing softly, "Don't be mad, I'll buy it for you later. Let's go home first."

“……”

Mo Jiao couldn't help himself; he had been searching for Qin Yu and the sacred relic for so long, he at least had to see if the item in that box was the relic, right?

"I want that box!"

Mo Jiao pointed at the carved wooden box at the head of the bed, his voice almost sounding petulant under Zhong Yixiao's gaze, and a bit guilty.

Zhong Yixiao's expression paused, then he lightly smacked Mo Jiao's bottom, pretending to scold sternly, "No, even if he's a bad person, those are his belongings. Taking without asking is stealing; we can't take his things."

Mo Jiao was stunned, glaring at Zhong Yixiao, "You spanked me?"

Finding the child's reaction amusing, Zhong Yixiao struggled to hold back a laugh, carrying the child out of the cave while gently patting his back, soothing, "Brother just wants Jiaojiao to be obedient. Be good, and let's go home with brother."

…Can just mentioning going home make up for the crime of spanking the sect leader?

Mo Jiao had never been spanked in his life, and although Zhong Yixiao's smack was light, he still felt utterly humiliated, seething with rage until they were out of the cave.

"Scumbag!"

Muttering under his breath, Zhong Yixiao burst into laughter, hugging the child tighter, "Alright, alright, I'm scum, I'm not human..."

Mo Jiao clenched Zhong Yixiao's clothes, tempted to strangle him but held back, listening to Zhong Yixiao's mocking laughter. Mo Jiao glared at him with flushed cheeks, then rested his chin on Zhong Yixiao's shoulder, broodingly watching the cave grow distant.

…Damn bastard! The sect leader will not let you off!

The carved wooden box was already forgotten.

Sure enough, it wasn't long before Qin Yu returned to the cave, tossing Xie Lingyu aside and calling him useless with a dark face, then hurried back to the bed.

Xie Lingyu internally complained before rising to explain, "You might not believe this, but it was that child who attempted to kill you... What are you looking for? Are you listening to me...?"

Qin Yu turned sharply, his icy gaze silencing Xie Lingyu immediately, who then attempted to appease with a sycophantic smile, "Boss, what are you searching for? Tell me, and I'll help you look."

Qin Yu's expression darkened as he shattered a stone table beside him with a palm strike, causing Xie Lingyu to kneel from fright. Qin Yu dismissed Xie Lingyu's tale of a child possessing such formidable internal strength as ludicrous.

Ignoring Xie Lingyu's ramblings, Qin Yu demanded action, "Go find Zhong Yixiao for me, and retrieve my box!"

Terrified, Xie Lingyu nodded eagerly, "Yes, yes, I'll find it... What?"

It was then he noticed the ornately carved wooden box Qin Yu treasured was missing!

As a righteous man, Zhong Yixiao naturally embodied integrity and responsibility.

Mo Jiao, still sulking inside the carriage, hurriedly left the area as soon as they emerged from the cave, reaching a village by dawn to rest and have a meal. It was then Mo Jiao noticed the bloodstains on Zhong Yixiao's white garment.

Murong Ling was shaken, and Su Jingchuan took care of her, leaving Zhong Yixiao and Mo Jiao alone at the dining table. Zhong Yixiao, attempting to appease Mo Jiao for his earlier displeasure, offered to feed him, adopting a pleasing demeanor.

Mo Jiao, seeing the spoon approached, twisted his mouth and turned away, noticing the blood on Zhong Yixiao's shoulder, "You're bleeding from your shoulder."

Zhong Yixiao reassured with a smile, "It's nothing, just a scratch. It's stopped bleeding, eat up, I'll be fine in a moment."

Mo Jiao, noting the minor wound but feeling uneasy, took the spoon from Zhong Yixiao's hand, frowning, "I can eat by myself."

He then took Zhong Yixiao's chopsticks and began to eat slowly yet gracefully.

Zhong Yixiao watched the child eat, his eyes filled with amusement.

"You must have been scared today. Eat more meat, grow stronger... Why are you glaring at me? Alright, my fault, I won't spank you again. Be good, I'll treat you well from now on."

Mo Jiao rolled his eyes, silently cursing him as a liar, continuing to eat while the other rambled on.

"It's surprising, Jiao Jiao looks so slender, yet is quite heavy to hold..."

……

"Jiao Jiao must be the young master of a wealthy family, surely doted on at home, you even eat so elegantly."

Ignoring Mo Jiao's disdain, Zhong Yi Xiao continued with a smile, "The fabric of Jiao Jiao's clothes is quite expensive, your hands are soft, surely you've never suffered. Can you tell brother about your family?"

Finally reaching this point, Mo Jiao silently stopped eating and looked at Zhong Yi Xiao.

As Zhong Yi Xiao curiously observed him, Mo Jiao was assessing whether the youth was genuinely naive or pretending, taking him away without inquiring about his background, acting foolishly all along the way. He hadn't seemed so foolish when they first met; could he be scheming?

...Perhaps as his sister had said, maybe Shi Tai He Yun knew of his peculiar illness, hence sending her disciple Zhong Yi Xiao to watch over him, all part of the martial alliance's conspiracy?

While Mo Jiao was filled with conspiracy theories, Zhong Yi Xiao chuckled and spoke again.

"I was foolish. Jiaojiao, you appear to be a well-mannered child, and it's only right that everyone dotes on you. A child as beautiful as you is loved by all. Ah, that's right, you mentioned before that your parents are no longer with us, and you have an uncle, right?"

Zhong Yixiao trusts what Doctor Chang says. He touches Mo Jiao's pretty cheek, smiling softly. As one of the Four Young Masters of the martial world, his appearance is naturally outstanding, possessing the beauty and gentle charm of a distinguished figure.

"Does your uncle treat you well?" Zhong Yixiao asked again. "If you come to Xianyun Villa, my home may not be as comfortable as Jiaojiao's, so don't disdain me for being poor, okay? I will treat you well."

Disdain him for being poor?

Mo Jiao raised an eyebrow. Everyone knows Zhong Yixiao is wealthy, skilled at amassing wealth, handsome, and somewhat naive. Seeing that he seems to have no ulterior motives, Mo Jiao's initial tension gradually eased, and he continued to eat.

A piece of roasted meat appeared in his bowl. Though the rural home could not produce exotic delicacies, their simple dishes had their own charm. The more Zhong Yixiao watched, the more he genuinely liked the child. Beautiful children are always likable, and Mo Jiao's demeanor was not like that of other children; he was remarkably well-behaved and calm.

Though Zhong Yixiao generally found children bothersome, he found his child irresistibly adorable, especially his slightly obstinate nature, feeling even more obligated due to his own shortcomings.

Mo Jiao looked at the roasted meat in his bowl, bit his chopsticks, and after a moment of contemplation, muttered, "You should apply medicine to your shoulder; it's covered in blood and disgusting..."

Though the comment was harsh, Zhong Yixiao genuinely laughed, agreeing, "Alright, Jiaojiao eat well, I'll be back soon."